Method and apparatus for dynamic destination address control in a computer network

ABSTRACT

An arrangement to direct a packet sent out from an arbitrary apparatus connected to a network to a predetermined authentication server without changing the configuration of a computer network. A packet transmitted from apparatus, such as a personal computer, newly connected to the network, is guided to an authentication server via communication control apparatus. The communication control apparatus replaces a MAC address of the destination addresses of another server, which is included in the ARP cache of the personal computer, with the MAC address of the communication control apparatus to guide the packet from the personal computer to the communication control apparatus. The communication control apparatus further transmits the received packet to a predetermined authentication server.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for dynamicallycontrolling destinations of packets in a computer network and, inparticular, to a method and apparatus for changing an address of acontrolled apparatus by giving an instruction to transfer packets to beoriginally transmitted from the controlled apparatus to a destinationapparatus, to another apparatus having a destination address differentfrom the original destination address, for example, via datatransferring apparatus.

2. Background and Related Art

A computer network is configured in a manner that the types and thenumber of devices can be flexibly changed, and this enhances theconvenience of information processing for individual users. For example,a user can flexibly achieve work by possessing a portable terminal, suchas a portable computer, and appropriately connecting the portableterminal to a network.

However, it is necessary to give consideration so that such flexibleoperation does not adversely affect the operation, efficiency, securityand safety of a network. For example, portable terminals with maliciouscode that may act to harm the operation, efficiency, security or safetyof a network need to be identified and precluded from connection.

Recently, enterprises, such as organization networks, have beenimplementing general security policies that apply to all activities inthe organization. A network security policy may, in particular, beimplemented and used for the purpose of preventing occurrence of thenetwork problems identified above.

A network security policy may include, for example, conditions which areimplemented by a network administrator and which are to be satisfied bydevices connected to the network. Under such a security policy, onlydevices in conformity with the policy are permitted access to thenetwork.

In order to realize this purpose, a quarantine/authentication systemmay, for example, be used for excluding devices that do not satisfy asecurity policy established for an intra-organization network. Aquarantine/authentication system typically may use various approaches.For example, one approach is to use a validating function, which is forvalidating the security policy of each device. Another approach is touse a network control function for restrictions or allowing access to anetwork.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, network access is controlledby employing a packet guiding unit or a packet redirection unit in anexisting network so that, for example, a network operation is carriedout to redirect data transmitted from a controlled terminal to a desiredaddress, as for example, the address of an authentication server or anyother designated server at a desired time.

The present invention is applicable to a computer network connected atleast to a first apparatus (for example, a first server) and a secondapparatus (for example, an authentication server or any other designatedserver). Typically, a third apparatus (for example, a portable computer)is connected to the computer network, and the third apparatus stores atleast the address of the first apparatus in a corresponding storagedevice, and transmits and receives data to and from the first apparatuson the basis of the stored address.

The present invention provides a communication controller connectable tosuch a computer network. The communication controller includes anaddress replacement unit and a data transfer unit. When the thirdapparatus is connected to the computer network, the address replacementunit transmits an instruction to the third apparatus for replacing theaddress of the first apparatus stored in the storage devicecorresponding to the third apparatus with the address of the datatransfer unit. The third apparatus transmits data to be transmitted tothe first apparatus to the data transfer unit on the basis of the datatransfer unit address received during replacement. The data transferunit then transfers data received from the third apparatus to the secondapparatus, such as, an authentication server.

The communication controller may be further provided with an apparatusdetection unit. The apparatus detection unit monitors data transmittedon the computer network, detects at least the addresses of the thirdapparatus and the data transfer unit, and stores the addresses into astorage device corresponding to the apparatus detection unit. Then, theaddress replacement unit performs replacement on the basis of theaddresses of the third apparatus and the data transfer unit in thestorage device corresponding to the apparatus detection unit.

In the communication controller, when the third apparatus is connectedto the computer network, the address replacement unit may transmit aninstruction to the second apparatus, for replacing the address of thethird apparatus in a storage device corresponding to the secondapparatus with the address of the data transfer unit after the secondapparatus stores the address of the third apparatus into thecorresponding storage device. The second apparatus may transmit data tobe transmitted to the third apparatus, to the data transfer unit on thebasis of the address after the replacement.

The network described above may include a router, and the communicationcontroller may be connected with the second apparatus via the router.The third apparatus may be connected to the second apparatus via therouter. The following is also possible. When the third apparatus isconnected to the computer network, the router stores the address of thethird apparatus into a corresponding storage device, the addressreplacement unit transmits an instruction to the router for replacingthe address of the third apparatus in the storage device correspondingto the router with the address of the data transfer unit and the routertransmits data to be transmitted originally to the third apparatus, tothe data transfer unit.

Furthermore, the first to third apparatuses and the communicationcontroller may transmit and receive data in accordance with the TCP/IPprotocol. Each of the address of the first apparatus and the address ofthe data transfer unit includes an IP address and a Media Access Control(MAC) address, and the address replacement unit may replace the MACaddress between the two addresses of the first apparatus, with the MACaddress of the data transfer unit. The address replacement unit mayperform the replacement of the MAC addresses in accordance with theAddress Resolution Protocol (ARP).

Furthermore, the second apparatus may hold predetermined apparatusauthentication criteria and have function of deciding whether or not thefirst apparatus satisfies the apparatus authentication criteria. Thesecond apparatus may be a “sorry” server.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a communication controlmethod and apparatus in a computer network which is connected to atleast first and second apparatuses and to which a third apparatus isfurther connectable, the third apparatus storing at least the address ofthe first apparatus in a corresponding storage device and performingtransmission and receipt of data to and from the first apparatus on thebasis of the stored address. In the communication control method andapparatus: (1) the address replacement unit transmits an instruction tothe third apparatus for replacing the address of the first apparatusstored in the storage device corresponding to the third apparatus withthe address of the data transfer unit when the third apparatus isconnected to the computer network; (2) the third apparatus transmitsdata to be originally transmitted to the first apparatus, to the datatransfer unit on the basis of the address after the replacement; and (3)the data transfer unit transmits the data received from the thirdapparatus to the second apparatus.

Other characteristics and features of the present invention will beapparent from the description in Best Mode for Carrying Out theInvention below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an overall system view of a hardware arrangement embodying acommunication controller 100 in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the communication controller 100of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of an address table 300 held by theaddress management unit 210 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the process carried out by the data transferunit 206 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the process carried out by the apparatusdetection unit 208 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a computer network 600 to which thecommunication controller 100 may be connected.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of another computer network 700 towhich the communication controller 100 may be connected.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of each apparatus in thecomputer network, including the operating procedure of the communicationcontroller 100.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of processing by the data transfer unit 206according to another embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of each apparatus in thecomputer network, including the operating procedure of the communicationcontroller 100, according to the another embodiment of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the presentinvention may be embodied as a system, method or computer programproduct. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the formof an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment(including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or anembodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may allgenerally be referred to herein as a “circuit”, “module” or “system”.Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of acomputer program product embodied in one or more computer readablemedium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon.

Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may beutilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signalmedium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readablestorage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic,magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system,apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. Morespecific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readablestorage medium would include the following: an electrical connectionhaving one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, arandom access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (EPROM) or Flash memory),an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), anoptical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitablecombination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, acomputer readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that cancontain, or store a program for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signalwith computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, inbaseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may takeany of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to,electromagnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. Acomputer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium thatis not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate,propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmittedusing any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless,wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc. or any suitable combination ofthe foregoing.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of thepresent invention may be written in any combination of one or moreprogramming languages, including an object oriented programming languagesuch as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional proceduralprogramming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similarprogramming languages. Portions of the program code may execute on theuser's computer or terminal, partly on the user's computer or terminalas a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer andpartly on remote computers or servers or all on remote computers orservers. In the latter scenarios, the remote computers may be connectedto the user's computer through any type of network, including a localarea network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection maybe made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet usingan Internet Service Provider).

Aspects of the present invention are described below with reference tosystem and flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods,apparatus (systems) and computer program products according toembodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block ofthe flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the flowchartillustrations, can be implemented by computer program instructions.These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of ageneral purpose computer, special purpose computer, or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to produce a machine or system,such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of thecomputer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create meansfor implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/orblock diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computerreadable medium that can direct a computer or system, other programmabledata processing apparatus, or other devices, such as, storage devices,user terminals, or remote computers such as, servers, to function in aparticular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computerreadable medium produce an article of manufacture including instructionswhich implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer,other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices, to causea series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, otherprogrammable apparatus or other devices to produce a computerimplemented process such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer or other programmable apparatus provide processes forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The systems and flowchart block diagrams in FIGS. 1 to 10, illustratethe architecture, functionality, and operation of possibleimplementations of systems, methods and computer program productsaccording to various embodiments of the present invention. In thisregard, blocks in the system and flowchart block diagrams may representor embody a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one ormore executable instructions for implementing the specified logicalfunction(s). It should also be noted that, in some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of theorder noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of thesystem and flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in thesystem and flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purposehardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts, orcombinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

Explanation of Terms

As an aid to understanding the general scope of the invention, but notto be taken as limiting, the following terms, as used through thisspecification and claims, may be described as follows:

Apparatus: All devices that can be connected to a network are included.For example, a server computer, a portable computer, a display, astorage device, an office machine such as a fax machine and a copyingmachine, a printer, and the like are included. An apparatus may be avirtual apparatus realized by computer software or may refer to aprogram code arrangement or a group of program code arrangementsexisting on a computer memory.

Connection: A state in which an apparatus is enabled to performinformation communication via a network is expressed as “connected”,being distinguished from “connectable” which includes both of anunconnected state and a connected state. The phrase “when connected”means “in the connected state” and may include “being connected at aparticular time on a time series” or “being connected during aparticular time width”. However, it is not limited to these meanings.

Communication controller: The communication controller may include, atleast, an address replacement unit and a data transfer unit. These unitsmay be physically distributed and arranged on a network. These units maybe implemented in one arrangement to also include an optional apparatusdetection unit.

Address: The term refers to the identification number of an apparatusconnected to a network. Both single identification numbers and a set ofmultiple identification numbers corresponding to multiple protocols areincluded. For example, such a set may be the set of an IP address andMAC address.

Corresponding storage device: A storage device corresponding to anapparatus is a storage device which the apparatus can access to recordor retrieve information, and the type and the implementation placethereof is not limited.

Data: The term is used in a general meaning as used in the industry. Ofcourse, a data packet transmitted on a network is also included.

Replacement: The term is used in a general meaning used in the industry.Various realization methods are conceivable, such as erasing an originaladdress and newly writing a new address, and overwriting an originaladdress with a new address.

In the description below, it is assumed that a network and variousapparatuses connected thereto perform data communication in accordancewith the TCP/IP protocol. However, the communication protocol is notlimited thereto as far as each operation of this invention is realized.

Hardware Configuration

FIG. 1 is an overall system view of a hardware configuration forembodying a communication controller 100, in accordance with the presentinvention.

The communication controller 100 comprises a CPU 102, a memory 104, astorage device 106, an input/output control device 110, a user interface114, a bus 108 connecting the same and a communication port 112 to thenetwork. The code of a communication control program may be stored inthe storage device 106, or it may be introduced into the memory 104 viathe communication port 112 and the input/output control device 110. Thecommunication control program code may be loaded into memory 104 andexecuted by CPU 102, or it may be executed by CPU 102 as it is stillstored in storage device 106. The memory 104 may be used as a temporarystorage memory for any of a variety of purposes. The user interface 11is used to display the operation state of the communication controller100 and/or as an input terminal for providing operation control.

The communication control program code can be divided into multipleparts and recorded in multiple storage media. For example, dividedportions of the control program code may be stored in storage media inother information processing apparatuses connected to the communicationcontroller 100 via communication port 112 and a computer network (notshown) connected thereto. In such an arrangement, CPU 102 may causeportions of the divided code to be executed in cooperation with oneanother. To distribute divided code to multiple apparatus and cause thecode to cooperate with one another may be embodied, for example, in aclient/server system. Which portions of the code each apparatus shouldexecute and which function each apparatus should realize may beappropriately selected when such system is designed. The presentinvention contemplates any of a variety of such forms.

The communication controller 100 of FIG. 1 may be configured so that itis physically separated into units of functional blocks as describedbelow. Where such is the case, hardware, similar to that shown in FIG.1, is arranged for each functional block, and the functional blockscooperate with one another via their communication ports akin tocommunication port 112 in FIG. 1.

Each of the components described above is shown as an example, and allthe components are not necessarily indispensable components of thepresent invention. Though an operating system which operates to controlthe communication controller is not indispensable, an operating systemwhich supports a graphic user interface multi-window environment as astandard capability, such as Windows®, XP®, AIX®, Linux®, or otheroperating systems, such as μITRON, are possible. The present inventionis not limited to a particular operating system environment.

System Configuration

Next, the functional block diagram of the operation of the communicationcontroller 100 will be described with reference to FIG. 2. Thefunctional blocks shown in FIG. 2 may be realized by the hardwareillustrated in FIG. 1. However, each of them is a logical functionalblock, and it is not necessarily meant that each of them is realized bydiscrete hardware or software. Each of the functional blocks may beembodied by a separate independent piece of hardware or by thecooperation of pieces of hardware, or by common hardware or software. Asfor an address, it is assumed that, when the units are realized byseparate pieces of hardware that cooperate with one another via anetwork, each unit has an inherent address. Where all the units areincluded in the same apparatus and cooperate with one another, theaddress of each unit refers to the address of the apparatus.

In a preferable embodiment of the present invention, the communicationcontroller 100 includes an input/output control unit 202, an addressreplacement unit 204 (also called a packet guiding unit), a datatransfer unit 206 (also called a redirector), an apparatus detectionunit 208 (also called a sensor) and an address management unit 210.

The input/output control unit 202 appropriately transmits incoming datafrom an external network to the address replacement unit 204, the datatransfer unit 206 and the apparatus detection unit 208, and sends outdata from these units to an external network. The input/output controlunit 202 may be implemented, for example, as a network interface card(NIC). Typically, it is desirable that the input/output control unit 202is connected to a normal port or a mirror port of a switch, or a networktap (a data tapping device for sending communication data flowing on anetwork to various kinds of apparatus), but the input/output controlunit 202 is not limited to such function.

The address replacement unit 204 preferably rewrites a part of contentsstored in ARP caches of other apparatus via a network, with the use ofaddress resolution protocol (ARP). The ARP is a protocol used todetermine an Ethernet® physical address (a MAC address) from an IPaddress in a TCP/IP network, and it mainly includes an ARP request andan ARP response.

When a particular apparatus connected to a network needs to acquire theMAC address of another apparatus, it broadcasts an ARP request includingthe IP address of the other apparatus, into the network. The otherapparatus having the IP address includes its own MAC address into an ARPresponse and unicasts the ARP response. In this way, apparatus in thenetwork can acquire the MAC address of other apparatus.

The address replacement unit 204 operates to include a predetermined MACaddress into an ARP response and transmits it to the requesting sourcevia the input/output control unit 202. The MAC address may be inputtedby the user of communication controller 100 via the user interface 114.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of an address table 300 held by theaddress management unit 210 of FIG. 2 and is provided as an aid tounderstanding the operation of the address management unit. Thisconceptual diagram does not necessarily mean that the address managementunit 210 collectively manages the addresses at one place in the form ofthe address table 300. The storage place and the storage form of thedata is not limited as far as the manner and location from which addressmanagement unit 210 may access the address data.

The address management unit 210 operates on addresses, such as theexamples represented by address table 300, which representation includesaddresses of other apparatus connected to the network and its ownaddress. The address table 300 may further be accessed by the addressreplacement unit 204, the data transfer unit 206 and the apparatusdetection unit 208 of FIG. 2. The address management unit 210 acquiresthe information in cooperation with the apparatus detection unit 208.The details of operation are described below.

The operation of data transfer unit 206 of FIG. 2 will be described withreference to the process depicted in FIG. 4. Data transfer unit 206 ofFIG. 2 receives a packet, as shown by step 402, via the input/outputcontrol unit 202. Where the source address of the received packet is theaddress of an apparatus registered in advance, the destination addressof the packet is inquired, as represented by step 406.

Here, the apparatus registered in advance may be an authenticationserver. The authentication server may include computers or computerprograms having, for example, the function of monitoring the use form ofa network system and deciding whether the use form conforms with theoperation policy of the network. The authentication server may also besuch that it acts to check whether an apparatus to be newly connected tothe network conforms with the network operation policy, and permitsconnection of the apparatus to the network only when the apparatusconforms with the network operation policy.

Alternatively, the apparatus registered in advance may be, for example,a “sorry server”. The sorry server is a server which responds in theevent that services of an application server are not available for somereason. Such may be the case where the application server is unavailablebecause of overload, maintenance, repair or the like. For example, thesorry server may respond with a message to the request source indicatingthat “maintenance being carried out for the application server”.

The description that follows operates on the assumption that theapparatus registered in advance, as depicted by “yes” in block 404 ofFIG. 4, is an authentication server. However, the apparatus is notlimited to an authentication server. This registration may be performedby a user entering the registration at user interface 114, as shown inFIG. 1, or by data transfer unit 206 receiving registration input froman external apparatus via the input/output control unit 202.

At step 406 of FIG. 4, the data transfer unit 206 of FIG. 2 refers tothe address table 300 depicted in FIG. 3 which is managed by the addressmanagement unit 210. The data transfer unit acquires the MAC address ofthe destination address on the basis of the destination IP address ofthe packet.

Data transfer unit 206 further rewrites the original destination addresswith the MAC address acquired from the address table 300 as well as thereceived IP address as a new destination address of the packet as shownin step 408 of FIG. 4. Then, data transfer unit 206 transmits the packetincluding the new destination address to the network via input/outputcontrol unit 202, as shown in FIG. 2.

On the other hand, if the source of the packet is not an apparatusregistered in advance at step 404, the data transfer unit 206 replacesthe destination address of the packet with the destination address of anapparatus registered in advance (step 410). For example, the datatransfer unit 206 replaces the destination IP address and MAC address ofthe packet with the destination IP address and MAC address of anauthentication server registered in advance. In addition to theseaddresses, a destination port number (in the case of TCP/UDP) or adestination address in application data may be replaced as necessary.

Here, the application data is data included in the packet. A destinationaddress is also included in it. In the case where the destinationaddress is used on the server side to provide services, it is preferablethat the destination address in the application data is changed at thesame time. When the address replacement ends, the data transfer unit 206transmits the packet to the network via the input/output control unit202.

Next the function of the apparatus detection unit 208 (sensor) of FIG. 2will be described with reference to FIG. 5. The apparatus detection unit208 acts to set the operation mode of the input/output control unit 202to a promiscuous mode (step 502) of FIG. 5. The promiscuous mode iswidely known in the industry as one of the operation modes of NIC, andit is a mode for receiving and reading all packets flowing on thenetwork. Thus, in this mode, input/output control unit 202 transmits allreceived packets to the apparatus detection unit 208, as shown by step504 in FIG. 5. Next, apparatus detection unit 208 acquires addressesincluded in the received packets as shown by step 506 in FIG. 5. Then,the addresses are stored in the address table 300 managed by addressmanagement unit 210. As described above, typically, pairs of IP addressand MAC address are stored in the address table 300, but it is clearthat what is stored is not limited thereto.

The above operation continues until the function of the apparatusdetection unit 208 is released, as shown by step 510 in FIG. 5. It ispreferable that the above operation be continued and the addresses ofall the apparatus existing in the same segment on the network to whichthe communication controller 100 belongs to be stored in the addresstable 300. However, it is sufficient that the addresses of a part of theapparatus of such network segment are stored insofar as the operation tobe described is concerned. Thus, it is not necessary that the addressesof all the apparatus be stored.

When the operation or function of the apparatus detection unit 208 isreleased (or canceled), the promiscuous mode of apparatus detection unit208 is released, as shown in step 512 of FIG. 5. The release(cancellation) may be based on any trigger, for example, a lapse of apredetermined time, an input from the user, an instruction from anotherapparatus, and the like.

Network Operation

The details of the operation of the communication controller 100 is asdescribed above. As an aid to understanding the overall operation ofController 100, reference is now made to FIGS. 6 and 8.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a network 600 to which the communicationcontroller 100 may be connected. FIG. 8 shows the operating procedure ofeach apparatus in the network. The network 600 includes a server 502, aportable computer 504 and an authentication server 516. These apparatusare connected to one another via layer 2 switches (L2 switches) 508 and518. All apparatus included in network 600 belong to the same segment (acontinuous area which can be accessed at a time on the network).

The communication controller 100, as shown in the configuration of FIG.6, may be connected to such a network 600, but the network to whichcontroller 100 may be connected is not limited thereto. In embodiment ofFIG. 6, the communication controller 100 is connected to the network 600so that it may perform data communication with other apparatuses via theL2 switch 508. Other configurations are possible.

When a connectable terminal, such as, portable computer 506 is newlyconnected to network 600, it starts communication with the server 502,as shown by step 802 in FIG. 8. It is assumed at this point, thatportable computer 506 has already acquired the IP address of server 502in an appropriate well-known method. It is preferable that portablecomputer 506 also acquires the MAC address of server 502 to communicatewith the server 502.

The portable computer 506 broadcasts the IP address of server 502,1.1.1.1 to all apparatus in the network segment in accordance with theARP to request transmission of their MAC addresses. In response to thisrequest, server 502 returns its MAC address a:a:a:a:a:a (FIG. 3) toportable computer 506 in the form of an ARP response. The returned IPaddress 1.1.1.1 and MAC address a:a:a:a:a:a of server 502 is stored inan ARP cache, which is the storage area of the portable computer 506,and the addresses are subsequently used by the portable computer 506 asthe address of the server 502 (step 804) of FIG. 8.

At this point, the address replacement unit 204 of the communicationcontroller 100 replaces the MAC address (a:a:a:a:a:a) of the server 502in the ARP cache of portable computer 506 with the MAC address of datatransfer unit 206 in communication controller 100, as predetermined inadvance (in this example, the MAC address of the communicationcontroller 100, d:d:d:d:d:d). This is shown in step 806 of FIG. 8.

The replacement timing can be adjusted appropriately. It is preferable;however, that the replacement be performed after portable computer 506receives the ARP response from server 502 but before the portablecomputer 506 transmits data to server 502 next time.

The following operations are also possible. The apparatus detection unit208 in FIG. 2 always updates the address table 300 at predetermined timeintervals, and within a predetermined time after an unknown apparatus(the portable computer 506 in this example) is detected. In addition,immediately after an ARP return is performed with the unknown apparatusas the destination, the address replacement unit 204 may replace theaddress in the ARP cache of the portable computer 506.

Thus, it can be seen that, as a result of the above processing, theaddress of server 502 held by the portable computer 506 is replaced with(IP: 1.1.1.1, MAC: d:d:d:d:d:d) (step 806). Accordingly, when portablecomputer 506 in FIG. 6 transmits a packet to server 502 next time, inaccordance with the TCP/IP protocol, (step 808), the packet istransmitted to the communication controller 100.

The data transfer unit 206 of Communication Controller 100 receives thepacket (step 810), and in accordance with the procedure described withreference to FIG. 4, it rewrites the destination address of the packetto the address (IP: 5.5.5.5., MAC: e:e:e:e:e:e) of the authenticationserver registered in advance (step 812) and sends out the packet to thenetwork again (step 814).

The packet sent out to the network reaches authentication server 516shown in FIG. 6 via the L2 switches 508 and 518 in a well-knownoperation (step 816) of FIG. 8. The authentication server 516, which hasreceived the packet, stores the source address (IP: 3.3.3.3., MACc:c:c:c:c:c) of the packet into its own ARP cache (step 818).

After that, the address replacement unit 204 rewrites the MAC address(c:c:c:c:c:c) of the portable computer 506 in the ARP cache of theauthentication server 516 to the MAC address (d:d:d:d:d:d) ofcommunication controller 100, similarly to the method for rewriting theARP cache of the portable computer 506 described above (step 820). Inthis way the packet transmitted to portable computer 506 from theauthentication server 516 (step 822) is transmitted to the data transferunit 206 in the communication controller 100.

As described above with reference to FIG. 4 (steps 408 and 412), thedata transfer unit 206 rewrites the destination address of the incomingpacket from the authentication server 516 to the address of the portablecomputer 506 and transmits the packet to the portable computer 506.

According to the operation described above, the packet transmitted tothe server 502 from the portable computer 506 is transmitted to theauthentication server 516, which is registered with the data transferunit 206 of the communication controller 100 in advance, via thecommunication controller 100 (step 824).

A packet transmitted to the portable computer 506 from theauthentication server 516 is also handled via the data transfer unit 206of the communication controller 100.

The authentication server 516 then judges, for example, whether or notthe portable computer 506 conforms with a network operation policy(including a network security policy) predetermined in advance.

For example, the network operation policy may include the following: theportable computers 504 and 506 should be such that (1) a password is setfor the screen saver, (2) input of a password is requested at activationof the hard disk drive, and (3) a predetermined firewall is installedand is effective, (4) predetermined virus detection software operates ata specified time.

As described above, the portable computer 506 newly connected to thenetwork 600 is forced to be connected to the authentication server 516to allow a predetermined quarantine/authentication process by thecontroller 100 (step 826).

It is preferable that the packet redirection operation by the datatransfer unit 206 is terminated when the authentication by theauthentication server 516 is completed. For example, the following ispossible. The authentication server 516 notifies the address replacementunit 204 that authentication is complete, and the address replacementunit 204 replaces the address of the server 502 in the ARP cache of theportable computer 506 with the original address, that is, (IP: 1.1.1.1.,MAC: a:a:a:a:a:a). Replacement may be performed after a predeterminedtime after packet redirection starts. Alternatively, the authenticationserver 516 may directly access the ARP cache of the portable computer506 (step 828) of FIG. 8.

Further Embodiment

FIG. 7 shows an example of another computer network configuration 700.The difference between network 600 shown in FIG. 6 and network 700 isthat routers 510 and 512 are added in network 700. Thus, in the computernetwork 700, the server 502 is connected to the personal computer 504and the communication controller 100 via the L2 switch 508 to form onesegment. On the other hand, authentication server 516 is connected to anL2 switch 514 and belongs to a different segment. As shown in FIG. 7,these different segments are mutually connected via the routers 510 and512.

In the network configuration of FIG. 7, the address replacement unit204, as shown in FIG. 2, rewrites the MAC address (c:c:c:c:c:c) of theportable computer 506 in the ARP cache of router 510 to the MAC address(d:d:d:d:d:d) of the communication controller 100. Thus, when a packetis sent by the authentication server 516 to portable computer 506, thepacket is sent via communication controller 100.

Yet a Further Embodiment

In the above embodiments, a return packet from the authentication server516 to the portable computer 506 is via the communication controller 100by the address replacement unit 204 rewriting the ARP cache of theauthentication server 516 or the router 510.

In a different method, when transferring a packet received from theportable computer 506 to the authentication server 516, data transferunit 206 in communication controller 100 may convert a source address inthe packet to its own address. As a result, the operation of rewritingthe ARP cache of the authentication server 516 or the router 510 may beomitted. FIG. 9 shows the outline of the operation of the data transferunit 206 in accordance with this different method.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operational procedure of eachapparatus in the computer network, including the operation procedure ofthe communication controller 100, according to the above differentmethod. First, the function of the data transfer unit 206 in accordancewith the different method will be described with reference to FIG. 9.The data transfer unit 206 receives a packet via the input/outputcontrol unit 202 (step 902). If the source address of the receivedpacket is the address of an apparatus registered in advance (step (904),the destination address of the packet is searched for in an extendedaddress table managed by the address management unit 210, with a portnumber included in the packet as a key (step 906). The details of theextended address table, such as table 300 extended, will be describedlater. Where the apparatus is registered in advance, the registrationmethod, as shown by steps 908 and 912, is the same as described withreference to FIG. 4.

At step 906, the data transfer unit 206 of FIG. 2 rewrites the originaldestination address, with the searched-out destination address as a newdestination address of the packet (step 908). Then, the data transferunit 206 transmits the packet including the new destination address, tothe network via the input/output control unit 202 (step 912).

Where the source address of the received packet is not a deviceregistered in advance, the data transfer unit 206 sends a port numberincluded in the packet to the address management unit 210. The addressmanagement unit 210 stores the source address and that of the portnumber into address table 300 in association with each other (at step909). In this way, the address table 300 is extended so as to includethe relation between the port number in the packet and the source of thepacket. The data transfer unit 206 also changes the destination addressof the packet to the destination address of a device registered inadvance (at step 910). The details of the address changing is asdescribed in FIG. 4. Furthermore, the data transfer unit 206 changes thesource address of the packet to its own address (at step 910).

The data transfer unit 206 sends the packet to the network via theinput/output control unit 202, after the address changing is completed(at step 912).

FIG. 10 shows work flow in accordance with the different method. Thedifferent method is applicable to, for example, both of the network 600shown in FIG. 6 and the network 700 shown in FIG. 7. However, thismethod is not limited to the above network configurations.

For purposes of description, it is assumed that the portable computer506 is newly connected to network 600 and starts communication with theserver 502 (at the step 1002). Then, the packet receiving process of thedata transfer unit 206 from the portable computer 506 is carried out inthe same manner as described with reference to FIG. 8.

When the packet is received by the data transfer unit 206 (at the step1010), the port number included in that packet is transferred from thedata transfer unit 206 to the address management unit 210 as describedwith referenced to FIG. 9. The address management unit 210 stores theport number and the source address (IP: 3.3.3.3, MAC: c:c:c:c:c:c) intothe address table 300 in association with each other (at the step 1011).

Then, the data transfer unit 206 rewrites the destination address of thepacket to the address (IP: 5.5.5.5, MAC: e:e:e:e:e:e) of theauthentication server registered in advance (step 1012). In addition,the data transfer unit 206 rewrites the source address of the packet toits own address (IP: 4.4.4.4, MAC: d:d:d:d:d:d) (step 1012). Whenrewriting of the destination address and source address of the packetends, the data transfer unit 206 sends out the packet to the network 600(step 1014).

The packet sent out to the network, as shown in FIG. 6, reaches theauthentication server 516 via the L2 switches 508 and 518 in awell-known procedure (step 1016). The authentication server 516 whichhas received the packet, stores the source address, that is, the address(IP: 4.4.4.4, MAC: d:d:d:d:d:d) of data transfer unit 206 into its ownARP cache (step 1018). Accordingly, a return packet from authenticationserver 516 in response to the packet which the authentication server 516has received from the portable computer 506 via the data transfer unit206 is, in turn, transmitted to data transfer unit 206 in thecommunication controller 100 (step 1022).

As described with reference to FIG. 9, data transfer unit 206 searchesthe address table 300 managed by the address management unit 210 for thedestination address of the packet, with the port number included in theincoming packet from the authentication server 516 acting as a key (step(906). Then, the data transfer unit 206 rewrites the originaldestination address, with the searched-out destination address (IP:3.3.3.3, MAC: c:c:c:c:c:c) as a new destination address of the packet(step 908) and transmits the packet to portable computer 506 (step 912).

According to the operation described above, the packet transmitted tothe server 502 from the portable computer 506 is transmitted to theauthentication server 516, which is registered with the data transferunit 206 of the communication controller 100 in advance, via thecommunication controller 100.

A packet transmitted to the portable computer 506 from theauthentication server 516 is also transmitted via the data transfer unit206 of the communication controller 100. Next authentication server 516evaluates, for example, whether or not the portable computer 506conforms with a network operation policy (including a network securitypolicy) predetermined in advance.

As described above, it can be seen that the portable computer 506 newlyconnected to the network 600 is forced by the controller 100 to beconnected to the authentication server 516 to undergo a predeterminedquarantine/authentication process (step 1026). The operation afterauthentication by the authentication server 516 is completed asdescribed above.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. The term “apparatus” includes single and multiple forms ofapparatus. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising”, when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended toinclude any structure, material, or act for performing the function incombination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. Thedescription of the present invention has been presented for purposes ofillustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive orlimited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications andvariations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Theembodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and the practical application, and to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention forvarious embodiments with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: determining a firstapparatus includes a first stored address, wherein the first storedaddress corresponds to a second apparatus; transmitting, to the firstapparatus, a first instruction to replace the first stored address witha second stored address; receiving, from the first apparatus, a firstcommunication, wherein: (i) the first communication has a firstdestination address, and (ii) the first destination address correspondsto the second stored address; establishing a connection with a thirdapparatus; determining the third apparatus includes a third storedaddress, wherein the third stored address corresponds to the firstapparatus; transmitting, to the third apparatus, a second instruction toreplace the third stored address with a fourth stored address; andtransmitting, to the third apparatus, the first communication; wherein:at least transmitting the first communication to the third apparatus isperformed by computer software running on computer hardware.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a registration inputfrom the third apparatus; and registering the third apparatus; wherein:establishing the connection with the third apparatus is responsive toregistering the third apparatus.
 3. The method of claim 1, whereintransmitting the first communication further includes: replacing thefirst destination address with a second destination address; wherein:the second destination address corresponds to the third apparatus; andtransmitting the first communication is based, at least in part, on thesecond destination address.
 4. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: receiving, from the third apparatus, a second communication,wherein: the second communication has a third destination address, andthe third destination address corresponds to the fourth stored address;and transmitting, to the first apparatus, the second communication. 5.The method of claim 1, wherein the first stored address, the secondstored address, and the first destination address are Media AccessControl (MAC) addresses.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the firstinstruction and the first communication are in accordance withtransmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP).
 7. A computerprogram product comprising: a computer readable storage medium devicehaving stored thereon: first instructions executable by a device tocause the device to determine a first apparatus includes a first storedaddress, wherein the first stored address corresponds to a secondapparatus; second instructions executable by a device to cause thedevice to transmit, to the first apparatus, a first instruction toreplace the first stored address with a second stored address; thirdinstructions executable by a device to cause the device to receive, fromthe first apparatus, a first communication, wherein: (i) the firstcommunication has a first destination address, and (ii) the firstdestination address corresponds to the second stored address; fourthinstructions executable by a device to (i) cause the device to establisha connection with a third apparatus (ii) cause the device to determinethe third apparatus includes a third stored address, wherein the thirdstored address corresponds to the first apparatus, and (iii) cause thedevice to transmit, to the third apparatus, a second instruction toreplace the third stored address with a fourth stored address; and fifthinstructions executable by a device to cause the device to transmit, tothe third apparatus, the first communication.
 8. The computer programproduct of claim 7, further comprising: sixth instructions executable bya device to cause the device to receive a registration input from thethird apparatus; and seventh instructions executable by a device tocause the device to register the third apparatus; wherein: fourthinstructions to establish the connection with the third apparatus areresponsive to seventh instructions to register the third apparatus. 9.The computer program product of claim 7, wherein fifth instructions totransmit the first communication further include: sixth instructionsexecutable by a device to cause the device to replace the firstdestination address with a second destination address; wherein: thesecond destination address corresponds to the third apparatus; and fifthinstructions to transmit the first communication are based, at least inpart, on the second destination address.
 10. The computer programproduct of claim 7, further comprising: sixth instructions executable bya device to cause the device to receive, from the third apparatus, asecond communication, wherein: the second communication has a thirddestination address, and the third destination address corresponds tothe fourth stored address; and seventh instructions executable by adevice to cause the device to transmit, to the first apparatus, thesecond communication.
 11. The computer program product of claim 7,wherein the first stored address, the second stored address, and thefirst destination address are Media Access Control (MAC) addresses. 12.The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the first instructionand the first communication are in accordance with transmission controlprotocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP).
 13. A computer system comprising: aprocessor set; and a computer readable storage medium device; wherein:the processor set is structured, located, connected, and/or programmedto execute instructions stored on the computer readable storage mediumdevice; and the instructions include: first instructions executable by adevice to cause the device to determine a first apparatus includes afirst stored address, wherein the first stored address corresponds to asecond apparatus; second instructions executable by a device to causethe device to transmit, to the first apparatus, a first instruction toreplace the first stored address with a second stored address; thirdinstructions executable by a device to cause the device to receive, fromthe first apparatus, a first communication, wherein: (i) the firstcommunication has a first destination address, and (ii) the firstdestination address corresponds to the second stored address; fourthinstructions executable by a device to (i) cause the device to establisha connection with a third apparatus (ii) cause the device to determinethe third apparatus includes a third stored address, wherein the thirdstored address corresponds to the first apparatus, and (iii) cause thedevice to transmit, to the third apparatus, a second instruction toreplace the third stored address with a fourth stored address; and fifthinstructions executable by a device to cause the device to transmit, tothe third apparatus, the first communication.
 14. The computer system ofclaim 13, further comprising: sixth instructions executable by a deviceto cause the device to receive a registration input from the thirdapparatus; and seventh instructions executable by a device to cause thedevice to register the third apparatus; wherein: fourth instructions toestablish the connection with the third apparatus are responsive toseventh instructions to register the third apparatus.
 15. The computersystem of claim 13, wherein fifth instructions to transmit the firstcommunication further include: sixth instructions executable by a deviceto cause the device to replace the first destination address with asecond destination address; wherein: the second destination addresscorresponds to the third apparatus; and fifth instructions to transmitthe first communication are based, at least in part, on the seconddestination address.
 16. The computer system of claim 13, furthercomprising: sixth instructions executable by a device to cause thedevice to receive, from the third apparatus, a second communication,wherein: the second communication has a third destination address, andthe third destination address corresponds to the fourth stored address;and seventh instructions executable by a device to cause the device totransmit, to the first apparatus, the second communication.
 17. Thecomputer system of claim 13, wherein the first stored address, thesecond stored address, and the first destination address are MediaAccess Control (MAC) addresses.
 18. The computer system of claim 13,wherein the first instruction and the first communication are inaccordance with transmission control protocol/Internet protocol(TCP/IP).
 19. A method comprising: determining a first apparatusincludes a first stored address, wherein the first stored addresscorresponds to a second apparatus; transmitting, to the first apparatus,a first instruction to replace the first stored address with a secondstored address, wherein: (i) the second stored address corresponds to adata transfer unit within a communication controller, and (ii) a firstcommunication from the first apparatus has a first destination addressthat corresponds to the second stored address; transmitting, to the datatransfer unit within the communication controller, a second instructionto replace the first destination address with a second destinationaddress, wherein the second destination address corresponds to a thirdapparatus; receiving a registration input from the third apparatus; andregistering the third apparatus wherein: transmitting the secondinstruction to replace the first destination address with the seconddestination address is responsive to registering the third apparatus;wherein: at least transmitting the second instruction to replace thefirst destination address with the second destination address isperformed by computer software running on computer hardware.
 20. Themethod of claim 19, further comprising: determining the third apparatusincludes a third stored address, wherein the third stored addresscorresponds to the first apparatus; transmitting, to the thirdapparatus, a third instruction to replace the third stored address witha fourth stored address, wherein: the fourth stored address correspondsto the data transfer unit within the communication controller, and asecond communication from the third apparatus has a third destinationaddress that corresponds to the fourth stored address; transmitting, tothe data transfer unit within the communication controller, a fourthinstruction to replace the third destination address with a fourthdestination address, wherein the fourth destination address correspondsto the first apparatus.
 21. A method comprising: determining, by anaddress replacement unit, a first apparatus includes a first storedaddress, wherein the first stored address corresponds to a secondapparatus; transmitting, from the address replacement unit, a firstinstruction to the first apparatus to replace the first stored addresswith a second stored address, wherein the second stored addresscorresponds to a data transfer unit; receiving, at the data transferunit, a first communication from the first apparatus, wherein: the firstcommunication has a first destination address, and the first destinationaddress corresponds to the second stored address; receiving, at theaddress replacement unit, a registration input from a third apparatus;registering, by the address replacement unit, the third apparatus;establishing, responsive to registering the third apparatus, aconnection with the third apparatus by the data transfer unit;replacing, by the address replacement unit, the first destinationaddress with a second destination address, wherein the seconddestination address corresponds to the third apparatus; transmitting,from the data transfer unit, the first communication to the thirdapparatus based, at least in part, on the second destination address;determining, by the address replacement unit, the third apparatusincludes a third stored address, wherein the third stored addresscorresponds to the first apparatus; transmitting, from the data transferunit, a second instruction to the third apparatus to replace the thirdstored address with a fourth stored address, wherein the fourth storedaddress corresponds to the data transfer unit; receiving, at the datatransfer unit, a second communication from the third apparatus, wherein:the second communication has a third destination address, and the thirddestination address corresponds to the fourth stored address; replacing,by the address replacement unit, the third destination address with afourth destination address, wherein the fourth destination addresscorresponds to the first apparatus; and transmitting, from the datatransfer unit, the second communication to the first apparatus based, atleast in part, on the fourth destination address.